the view from New York

[Fenway]

Listened and watched last night on WCBS and YES and it was interesting hearing the Yankees announcers talking about the Sox.


John Sterling raved about the Cell and the improvements (the bushes in CF, the roof etc ) and said "this is a great ballpark when it is full of people"
Dame Edna (aka Suzan Waldman) says she taled to some Yankees scouts and they told her that KW has put together a fine team but for the wrong ballpark. Problem is even good pitching will create fly balls that will make the seats at The Cell but not at other parks. With the road record that much better than home it maybe a valid observation.
The newspapers of course are over the top, but the NY TIMES has a great profile on KW.

NY TIMES

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/08/20/sports/20willimas.751.jpg (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/sports/baseball/20williams.html)His Eye on October, Williams Proceeds With Gusto (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/sports/baseball/20williams.html)
By JACK CURRY
Kenny Williams is the architect trying to get the White Sox to the World Series, trying to help them win their first title since 1917.


YANKEES 3, WHITE SOX 1
Mussina Handles Garland and the White Sox (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/sports/baseball/20yanks.html)
By TYLER KEPNER
The Yankees needed Mike Mussina to be all but spectacular Friday at U.S. Cellular Field. For seven innings, he was.
• Icy Glint in Torre’s Eyes Betrays No Fear (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/20/sports/baseball/20pins.html)

NY DAILY NEWS
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/384-FRONT_BIG.jpghttp://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/683-BACK_BIG.jpg

Joe Torre has a reputation for being unflappable, unemotional and perpetually calm. Most of the time, those characterizations are true. But not always. After the Yankees lost their second straight game to the Devil Rays Wednesday night, Torre erupted.
FULL STORY (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/338914p-289469c.html)

And it looks like they heard him!Mike Mussina tossed seven sterling innings, Tom Gordon worked a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera finished the Bombers' 3-1 victory over the White Sox, snapping a two-game skid and washing away the foul aftertaste of a pair of late collapses in Tampa earlier in the week.FULL STORY (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/339013p-289541c.html)

Guillen: Joe managing just fine (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/339010p-289547c.html)

http://www.nypost.com/img/back082005.gif (http://www.nypost.com/sports/sports.shtml)



EMPIRE MIKES BACK VS. SOX By GEORGE KING

August 20, 2005 -- CHICAGO — Being the elder statesman of the Yankees' revamped rotation, Mike Mussina is in the position to dispense advice.

Last night against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, he did it very well, without uttering a word. With the Yankees desperately needing a win after two brutal performances against the putrid Devil Rays that fueled speculation about Joe Torre's job security, Mussina delivered a stellar performance. Full story (http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/52163.htm)

[Paulwny]

Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill-- tv broadcast
1) both preferred Wrigley
2) sox fans they talked with are still not sold on this team and are worried about this losing streak
3) very quiet crowd for a sell out

[Fenway]

Sterling was "shocked" that the White Sox are pushing playoff tickets on local TV, and cited 64 Phillies, 87 Blue Jays etc. Personally I think it is a smart move to build up the season ticket base for 2006.

I am 99.9% certain that the White Sox will be playing past October 2nd, but both LAA and BOS are creeping closer to first seed. Now it is almost certain that Selig will order the White Sox and Red Sox to play on Sept 5th because there is NO WAY a game that could possibly decide the playoff pairings will be played on October 3rd. ( unless of course 2 teams tie after 162 )

But watching the Sox on TV this week I felt like Lee Iacoca in his recent TV spots "There's something missing" about this White Sox team the past few weeks.

I wonder. Earlier this year the team knew Frank was coming back and went 120% in April and May to make up for his absence. You can trace the teams sputtering to when Frank announced he was all done for 2005.

BTW all the NY announcers liked Beatle night :smile:
http://www.rarebeatles.com/photopg7/chica656.jpg

[Paulwny]

I wonder. Earlier this year the team knew Frank was coming back and went 120% in April and May to make up for his absence. You can trace the teams sputtering to when Frank announced he was all done for 2005.

BTW all the NY announcers liked Beatle night :smile:
http://www.rarebeatles.com/photopg7/chica656.jpg


Good observation, no one really knows how Frank affected this team early in the season and now.

[oeo]

But watching the Sox on TV this week I felt like Lee Iacoca in his recent TV spots "There's something missing" about this White Sox team the past few weeks.

He goes by the name of Scott Podsednik, he is the key to this team winning. If he's hurt, we're hurt; if he's slumping, we're slumping. Come back Scottie!

EDIT: Another thing, why are we still trying to replace Podsednik with Timo. It didn't work last week and it isn't working now, why is still going? Let Rowand lead off.

[ndu3t4]

I saw on TV that he's supposed to be back August 29th. I'm counting the days, hopefully we win one or two games to make these next 9 days come quicker.

[IowaSox1971]

I agree with the New York announcers. It's too early to assume we have a playoff spot wrapped up. The division lead might be down to three or four games by Sept. 1.